Make it two

ON returning from a short holiday I read that our Council Leader Mr Meeson believes that the Cabinet type of administration now active in Solihull precludes the majority of councillors taking a strong and active part in the administration of local government and they are just acting as a rubber stamp to The Few.

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ON returning from a short holiday I read that our Council Leader Mr Meeson believes that the Cabinet type of administration now active in Solihull precludes the majority of councillors taking a strong and active part in the administration of local government and they are just acting as a rubber stamp to The Few.

At a time when we are all looking to cut back on expenses isn’t it time that we looked at reducing the number of councillors within each ward from three to two? This would bring significant cost saving and show people our Council has the best interests of its public in mind.

So come on Ken be brave and radical let’s have a root and branch restructure and save the rate payers 33 per cent of its elected council costs.

W Wood, Framefield Drive, Solihull

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Going nuclear

HAVING followed the HS2 debate through your letter pages I despaired of new insights but Mike Natrass MEP’s letter of June 24 raises a couple of significant points that had previously escaped me.

Firstly, on the issue of valuable journey time for meeting preparation, we clearly have a competitive advantage over all those Mickey Mouse economies with their TGVs and Bullet Trains. It would be a national calamity to lose this. In fact, the most logical step would be to reduce all rail speeds and make a British meeting the envy of the world. I can’t see Johnny Foreigner having an answer to that one.

The letter also quotes E=MC2 to demonstrate the increased energy costs of high speed. Nowhere, before, had I picked up that the HS2 would be nuclear and, presumably, convert its own mass for propulsion.

No wonder Mr Natrass is so concerned. His hastily prepared meeting presentations could disappear in a mushroom cloud. Some might think that is where they belong. I could not possibly comment.

Gerry Bristow via e-mail

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Parking sense

IN the June 24 edition, there was an article by Caroline Spelman MP, highlighting possible problems for blind people because of parked vehicles encroaching on pavements. I totally agree with giving due consideration to people with disabilities.

However, there are times when parking a little way on the pavement actually affords more consideration to the majority of people going about their daily lives, without offering any more obstruction to the blind than telegraph poles, lamp posts, litter bins, advertising boards, bus stops, waste-bins etc.

I live behind a service road in Streetsbrook Road and because a near neighbour has, for the last couple of years, been giving tuition, the parking from her students has led to much obstruction.

Even when they have parked with their wheels up against the nearside kerb they have caused obstruction. So, without using discretion and a little of the pavement, the service road becomes impassable for some drivers. I can also truthfully state that in the 28 years of living behind this service road I have not seen one blind person passing by, so please allow for discretion on this matter for the benefit of all society.

P Thorp via e-mail

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Shame on you

I HAVE on several occasions sent letters supporting cyclists that were being panned for riding two or three abreast, ignoring traffic lights etc.

It is with regret that I have to report that over the last 10 days I have witnessed several ‘club riders’ flagrantly ignoring the rules of the road. Twice I have seen riders going through red lights at busy junctions putting themselves at risk.

And a group of riders not content to stay in the cycle box at lights, but advance to the line of the crossing traffic. As is the norm a minority getting the majority a bad name.

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